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Dry Needling

Dry needling is a technique that uses acupuncture needles in precise locations to accelerate the healing of injured tissue, release muscle spasm, reduce pain, and increase range of motion.

So what's the difference between dry needling and acupuncture?

Acupuncture works with the body's meridians, or energy channels, to produce health, wellness, hormonal balance, and normal digestion. It is also used for pain and injury relief, and is very powerful in this regard. Dry needling is also quite powerful, and for pain and injury relief it is "like acupuncture on steroids." Dry needling does not work with the meridians of the body, but rather produces direct stimulation of muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints at strategic points. Dry needling is immensely popular among the elite athletes we treat and is used worldwide for the treatment of athletic injuries, to enhance recovery, and for injury prevention. Dry needling can often shorten recovery time significantly.

Are there different Dry Needling Approaches?

There are at least two prevailing schools of training regarding dry needling. One approach is very gentle, quite precise, and is based on anatomically consistent areas of stimulation. This gentle, pain free approach is the dry needling technique we use here at The Center for Spine, Sport & Physical Medicine. We do not use the other approach -- used by a growing number of therapists in the Denver area -- that is aggressive and uncomfortable. We've had patients tell us that our approach is a "night and day" difference from what they've experienced elsewhere. Of course, it is the lasting results our patients appreciate the most.

Dr. Joel Carmichael, DC attended Logan College of Chiropractic in St. Louis, graduating valedictorian magna cum laude in 1985. He became the second chiropractor in the United States to complete a one-year hospital residency in chiropractic family practice at Lindell Hospital with an emphasis in orthopedics. He attended grand rounds in orthopedics and rheumatology at Barnes Hospital/Washington University School of Medicine—ranked in 2007 as the 4th leading medical school in the country.

Dr. Jon Seeman graduated from Western States Chiropractic College in Portland, Oregon in 2006. He completed an internship in Beaverton, Oregon with Dr. Ted Forcum who, with Dr. Carmichael, is a top Olympic sports chiropractor. Dr. Seeman participated in treatment of amateur, elite and professional athletes from various sports. Dr. Seeman was trained in various sport injury protocols and procedures that have been proven to help with a faster recovery and enhance overall performance.